U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced Tuesday that Grimes Field in Urbana has been awarded $151,254 in federal funding by the U.S. Department of Transportation to seal cracks in the apron, taxiways and runways.

“This federal investment is great news for the region and will enhance safety at Grimes Field Airport,” Brown said. “These improvements will go a long way in sustaining travel in and out of the airport for area residents and businesses.”

Airport Manager Lou Driever added, “The issuance of this grant affords the airfield the opportunity to continue providing the citizens of Urbana and Champaign County a safe, convenient location to operate aircraft in support of both recreational and commercial activity locally.”

Maintenance of the apron, taxiways and runways, Driever said, is a continual project at every airfield in the country with Grimes Field being no exception.

“The Ohio Department of Transportation regularly inspects the pavement at each airport in the state, and our repairs will align us with their standards and recommendations,” he said.

The sealing of cracks in the pavement at Grimes Field, Driever said, is an ongoing process that’s repeated every few years.

“The (Federal Aviation Administration) and ODOT have issued very specific guidance about how to accomplish these repairs to ensure we get the best return on investment from both a safety and performance standpoint,” he said.

Driever said he is in talks with the contractor to identify the optimal window to accomplish the repairs this fall.

“There will be a one-, possibly two-day period when we will need to close the runway to seal any cracks along its length, but we will carefully stage the construction schedule to minimize any disruption of ongoing operations while repairing the taxiways and aprons,” Driever said.